Oof: Kathie Lee Gifford Asks Martin Short How His Deceased Wife Is Doing

On this morning's Today show, co-host Kathie Lee Gifford thought little of asking guest Martin Short about his marriage, considering it's usually a fairly innocuous line of talk-show small talk.

Except that in the case of Short it's a sad reminder that his wife Nancy Dolman is no longer alive, having passed away in 2010 of ovarian cancer.

"How many years are you in love with her now?" Gifford inquired of Short unawares. "We have married 36 years," a clearly caught-off-guard Short replied. "But you're still in love!?" Gifford continued.

Eventually Hoda changed the subject, and Short graciously waited until the commercial break to correct Gifford's painful mistake.

She later sent out a tweet apologizing to Short (or, rather, to the person parked at @MartinShort) and his family. "He handled situation w/enormous grace and kindness and I'm so grateful," Gifford tweeted.